July 7, 2013

I remember that when I first heard the phrase "the creative process" I thought it sounded just a little pretentious. Now that I'm older and wiser, and having to had create either images or written articles on a regular basis for a number of years, I now understand it more clearly from my own personal experience, and realise that it is a step-by-step process.

Sometimes it is filled with frustration, especially when the pressure is on to get busy and create something by a particular date. As the creative mind doesn't work to a schedule, putting that kind of pressure on to produce something inevitably leads to blocks, or to the production of something that lacks spark. This then leads to disappointment and even further pressure to be better next time.

Strange as it may sound, I'm thankful that I've never gotten paid for my work. My written articles were for both my weekly newspaper column and my on-air radio program, both of which I volunteered for and were connected to the other. While there was pressure to produce by a particular date, I was not relying on producing items for an income, so to a degree, I was able to relax and let the thinking takes its creative course.

There were other difficulties: because I worked elsewhere for my income, it left me with much less time to put into the creative process. One way to get around that was to take pen and paper with me everywhere and jot down notes, observations and thoughts as they popped into my head. Whenever I had a spare ten minutes, I would take the opportunity to expand on those concepts a little further.I have also been writing short stories and books for over a decade now, which is another process altogether, and one I won't discuss here today :o)

The creation of graphic designs has been a later development in my life and one I have only recently been able to market - though I'm yet to make any kind of income from it. While it would be nice to earn an income from my graphic designs, I enjoy the fact that I don't have to work to deadlines and my mind can take as long as it wants to develop the ideas. Often, I have several concepts jostling for position in my mind at the same time.When I was young, I wanted to study art at university, but my parents insisted that I undertake something which would enable me to have a "reliable" income. For years, that has lead to my creative side being rather frustrated. Imagine my delight as I grew older, that computers and programs have developed to such a degree that I can now finally allow the blossoming of the stunted artist in me.

Here are some of my latest designs, some of which are a little on the quirky side:

Joyride on a Tigermoth

A few years back I spurged and bought myself a joyflight for my birthday

Personal Quotes from Vicki-S

"Occasionally I find my breakfast a little bitter, and sometimes it's difficult to chew and swallow; though at other times it's sweet, but it’s very satisfying and always sustains me. My most important meal of the day, is feasting on God’s Word and drinking up His presence."

I love me, because God loves me. It's not that God doesn't see my flaws, they are like blazing torches in His eyes, but rather that He sees past my imperfections and still loves me. And who am I to argue with the perfect God that I am worthwhile, that I am worthy of love, and that He accepts me and wants me to be His child, His beloved daughter? When I understood this, I began to accept and embrace His version and His vision of me, and not the world's.

"The silent treatment and sulking are simply two other weapons in the arsenal of the manipulator."

"Often people use the metaphor of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon to describe how we can grow from difficult experiences, but what they don't mention is the fact that at first we start off as an ugly caterpillar."

"We so often just get caught up in trying to just get through each day, that we forget to pause and be thankful for the fresh one that is presented anew and untouched each morning."

"Contrary to what we might think, forgiveness isn't so much about healing our relationship with that other person, but about healing our own broken heart."

"The purpose of school reunions is to show off how much you've achieved in life, to laugh at the once popular kids who've aged more quickly than you; and to wince at the guy who was a bully in school and who aptly became a policeman."

"I've found in many organisations where volunteers are needed, including the modern-day church, that 80% of its people sit back and let everyone else do most of the work, then there's the 10% who actually make the place run, and the remaining 10% just like to whinge about the 10% doing the work, especially about how they could do it better."

"When traced back to its source, every sin, every despicable act, and every war was motivated by someone's selfishness."

"I do not want to think of man, for that would distract me from God. But if I focus on God, I cannot help but think of my fellow man, and each day God keeps the scales balanced so that I have enough within me to do both."

"Overcoming depression isn’t about changing ones attitude, or just ‘getting on’ with things, it’s like removing one’s personal black shroud one thread at a time, with ones teeth.”